By Magnus Effiong
The Alumni Association of St Patrick’s College Ikot Ansa, Calabar, has called on relevant authorities to work towards returning the institution to a boarding school for boys only.
The National President of the Association, His Majesty Edidem Etim C.D Abia, who is also the Attah Ekid Afid in Akwa Ibom state, said this in Calabar, weekend, during the 90th Anniversary celebration of the institution.
The President noted that making the institution a boarding school for boys as was in the beginning would restore academic excellence and that the Alumni was ready to ensure the lost glory of the once-popular college, which was at par with Kings College Lagos, was restored.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to commend the Church for its efforts in repositioning the school. Today, the school is doing very well but we are not really satisfied. We want the school to be fully restored to what it was as one of the best eight secondary schools in Nigeria, then.
“The Deputy Governor has assured us that the government of Cross River state would partner the Church and the Alumni Association to return the school to a boarding secondary school as it was before, and strictly for boys. With this, the spirit of hardwork and discipline shall be inculcated in the students.
“Our aim is to ensure that the vision of the founding fathers, who established St Patrick’s College as an institution of learning for boys, is preserved and improved so that it will forever remain a citadel of learning of the highest standard.”
Going down the memory lane, Edidem Abia said “What made the premises of St. Patrick’s College a most suitable environment for learning also attracted the military authorities after the civil war in 1970 to locate its training camp in the premises.
“Naturally, this had a devastating effect on the facilities of the College with the school itself relocated in the Sacred Heart Primary School and the Holy Child Convent in Calabar town.
“Although the military later relinquished their hold on the premises, most of the adjoining land which provided a possibility for expansion of the school was confiscated and the facilities completely destroyed.
“Today, we must give kudos to St. Patrick’s College Old Boy’s Association and the Proprietor, the Archbishop of Calabar, His Lordship Archbishop Dr. Brian Davis Usanga and his successor, His Grace Most Rev. Joseph Effiong Ekuwem, for their untiring effort, dedication and determination to ensure that the school is not only restored to its pre-war rank but is rebuilt and modernized to maintain its status as one of the topmost institution of learning for boys.
“The Parish that was established in the school premises to protect it from government complete takeover has become a problem that could destroy the soul of the school as a citadel of learning for boys.
“In the present situation, where the Parish is about to swallow up the school, there is a possibility that the effort of the early missionaries and patriotic Nigerians that had developed the school as a first class centre of learning is seriously endangered.
“To avoid this catastrophe, the Alumni Association, which now covers not only Nigeria, Great Britain, U.S.A Canada, the Irish Republic, Europe and Australia, are determined together with the cooperation of the Proprietor, the Archbishop of Calabar to restore the school to its pre-war status especially in promoting modern infrastructure and isolating the school from the Parish.
“Only this can guarantee conducive environment for learning and eliminate distraction on the students in the premises that is everyday invaded by Parishioners.
Once His Grace, the Archbishop gives his consent, the Old Boys Association plans to fence out the Parish, redesign the layout of the school premises and raise funds to embark on complete revamping of its facilities to bring it in line with modern Colleges of learning anywhere.
“We are convinced that His Grace, the Archbishop and the Auxiliary Bishop appreciate and are willing to partner with the Alumni Association to restore the school to the image and dream of the founding fathers,” the National President, who is also the Paramount Ruler of Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom state, stated.
